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An engagement photography workflow is crucial to staying organized. Without a checklist, it can be tough to complete work on time. Having a plan helps to ensure that things go smoothly during a photo shoot as well as after you are done taking the engagement photos. A well-executed photography workflow checklist can make all the difference in the world. Chalking out a workflow system can be beneficial for you in terms of saving time and delivering galleries punctually, which will mean a lot to your clients. Plus, it could also be the deciding factor of whether they’ll hire you for their wedding or not. From initial contact to delivery of the final edited images - this blog features engagement photography workflow ideas that could help you work more efficiently. So without further ado, let’s help you set up a workflow sheet that can help you become the best photographer and business owner. 

Questions To Address Before Planning A Workflow 

Before you start planning your photography workflow, ask yourself these questions:

• What’s the goal for your wedding photography business?
  
  
• What other commitments do you have, and how will that affect your timeline?
  
  
• How many engagements and weddings do you book, and what’s your ideal number of bookings per year?
  
  
• What area are you serving, and what are the expectations of clients here?
  
  
• Who is your ideal client?
  
  
• What’s your business budget?

You may not have all the answers yet — especially if you are just starting a business in this industry. But one important step is to take a look at your style, your business, and your schedule so you can develop a photography workflow chart that works for you.

Suggested Read: How To Streamline Your Wedding Photography Business Workflow

Engagement Photography Workflow

1. Check Availability

When a client contacts you about an engagement session, the first thing you should do is check your availability for the date they are requesting. If you are not available, be sure to let them know as soon as possible so they can keep their options open. 

Use CRM software like Salesforce or an engagement photography workflow sheet/template to keep track of your client communications and bookings. This will save you time in the long run!

Suggested Read: How To Take Engagement Photos

2. Initial Inquiries

The longer you wait to get back to your client, the more likely they are to book with another photographer. Looking for an efficient and easy way to receive queries faster without scrolling through your inbox? Showit is a powerful platform that allows you to create a website that books the clients you love. Every inquiry submitted through your website will immediately be text messaged to you!

Suggested Read: 12 Engagement Photo Themes To Fit Every Mood And Budget

3. Answer All Questions

Your clients might have a lot of questions to ask you. To save both sides time and effort, try sending them a ‘guide’ which includes:

• A price sheet
• A “What To Expect” page
• An “About Me/About Us” page
• A vendor list (if any) that allows you to tag other businesses when you share images on social media later.

4. Pre-Engagement Session Interview 

The pre-engagement session interview is a great way to get to know your clients better and understand what they are looking for in their engagement photos. It helps prepare you for the session and sometimes even the wedding. 

In your engagement photography workflow checklist, create a questionnaire as a ‘guide’ for your interview:

• How long have you been together?
• What’s the story of how you met or got engaged?
• What are your hobbies and interests?
• Do you have any pets?
• Are there any must-have shots that you would like me to capture?
• Do you have any locations in mind for the shoot?
• What kind of outfit do you envision yourselves wearing?
• Are you working with a specific budget for your engagement photos?
• How did you hear about me?
• Is there anything else I should know about the two of you or your relationship? 

Suggested Read: 10 Questions To Ask In A Wedding Photography Questionnaire

5. Think About Your Gear

Now that you have a general engagement photography workflow down, it's time to start thinking about the specific gear you'll need to execute your vision. This is where things can get a little bit tricky because engagement photography sessions can take place in a wide variety of locations and settings. 

• Outdoor: If you’re taking engagement photos outside, you'll need to make sure you have the right lenses to capture both wide shots of the landscape and intimate moments between the couple. A good rule of thumb is to bring a mix of primes and zooms so that you're prepared for anything.
  
  
• Indoor: You might have to deal with low lighting conditions when shooting indoors. In these cases, you'll need to make sure you have a fast lens so that you can still capture sharp images. A 50mm f//14 is a great option for indoor engagement photography. 

No matter what type of engagement session you're shooting, it's always a good idea to bring along a flash and some off-camera lighting gear. This will give you the flexibility to create different looks and add some extra dimension to your images.

Suggested Read: The Minimalist's Guide To Wedding Photography Gear

6. Culling And Photo Editing

Start sorting all of the images you've taken and pick out the best ones. When you're culling your couple’s engagement photos, there are a few things you should keep in mind. 

1. Take a look at the composition of each shot and make sure that it's aesthetically pleasing.
   
   
2. Pay attention to the expressions on your subjects' faces. You want to make sure they look natural and happy in every image.
   
   
3. Examine the overall mood of each image and see if it matches the vision you or your couple planned. 

Once you've selected the BEST, it's time to start editing them. Depending on your style, this can be a fairly simple process or intricate. For a natural look, try doing a light edit in Lightroom or Photoshop. This will involve adjusting the exposure, contrast, and white balance of each image. You can also use this opportunity to remove any blemishes or distractions from the background. Try to play around with different presets or actions, adding overlays or textures or even painting directly on the image.

Related Read: Photo Culling Services - Outsource To ShootDotEdit

7. Deliver Work To Clients

Congratulations! You’ve now reached the end of your engagement photography workflow chart! After you've edited your client's engagement photos, it's time to deliver them! There are different ways to do this:

1. Send your couples engagement galleries where they can view and download their engagement photographs to share them with family and friends.
   
   
2. Another option is to send them a USB drive with all of their edited images. This is a good option if your clients prefer to have a physical copy of their engagement photos.
   
   
3. Send all the images via Dropbox, as it will be easy for you to upload digital files, organize them, and share your photos using cloud storage.

Further Read: Engagement Photo Ideas For A Memorable Session

Organizing your engagement photography workflow is not as daunting as it may seem. By breaking down the process into simple steps, you can easily manage your time and deliver a product that your clients will love! Be sure to check your availability, respond quickly, and answer all initial questions that your clients might have. After successful booking, get your gear in place and shoot away! Don't forget that engagement photography is a great way to build your portfolio and get more clients. And with a well-crafted workflow, you can expand your business while maximizing your efficiency and keeping everything organized.